Folding-machine.



A. HAAHR. FOLDING MACHINE. APPLICATION FILED MAY 9.1912.

1,169,146. Patented Jan. 25, 1916.

' a SHEETS-SHEET 1.

PH c0., WASHINGTON, D. c.

A. HAAHR.

FOLDING MACHINE. APPLICATION FlL ED MAY 9. 1912.

1,169,146. Patented 111.25, 1916.

, 1 3 SHEETS-SHEET 2- M; m; F1

A. HAAHR.

FOLDING MACHiNE.

APPLICATION FILED MAY 9,1912.

1,169,146. 4 Patented Jan. 25, 1916 I 3 SHEETS-SHEET 3- FEM.

MTA/ESSES I fivymvrm. fi QM M Zlw/Jf 4 ML A A W edge of said folder r ares arnnr heron ANTON HAAHR, 0F COPENHAGEN, DENMARK, assrelvon T0 UNITED snon MACHINERY COMPANY, or PATERSON, NEW amasnr, A oonrosarron or NEW JERSEY} FOLDING-JrIACI-IINE.

Zo aZZ whom it may concern Be it known that I, ANTON Hannma subje'ctof the King of Denmark, residing at Gopenhagen, Denmark, have invented certain Improvements in Folding- Machines, of which the following description, in connec tion with the accompanying drawings, is specification, like reference characters on the drawings indicating like parts in the several figures.

This invention relates to folding machines and is herein illustrated in connection with a machine for folding themargins of quarters of boots andshoes. r

The invention is concerned with certain improvements in machines which are known to the trade as form folders in which a considerable extent of the margin of apiece of leather is bent over the edge of the former by the folder, the edges of the former and the folder having a contour which corresponds to that of the margin to be folded. Formers and folders having different contours are used for o erating upon pieces of different shape, but Ior convenience the present invention will be described in the embodiment adapted for operation upon the quarters of Blucher shoes since these quarters present unusual difficulties. Such a quarter is illustrated in Figure 11, the margin to be folded extending from the point A to the point B, the line of fold being indicated by the dotted line. If it is attempted to fold such a margin by using an ordinary folder having the outline of the top, throat and front of the quarter illustrated, a difliculty arises owing to the fact that no direction of movement of the folder can be selected which will cause all portions of the to move transversely across the adjacent edge of the quarter. For example, if the folder is moved in-the direction of the feathered arrow themargin at the throat will be properly folded, but the margins at the top Q; and front It will not; and this will beQtrue particularly of the front owing to the fact that the'direction of movement of the folder very nearly coincides with the line of the edge of the front. Accordingly, such quarters have hitherto been folded by snipping them at the line marked X and using two sets of folders and formers in two separate operations, one set having an outline to correspond to that from to X and the other an outline to corre- Specification of Letters Patent. Application filed May 9, 1912.

i Patented Jan. 25, 1916, Serial at. 698,119.

spond to that from B to X, the approximate directions of movement of the two sets being indicated by the plain arrows. These directions are chosen so as to cause the folder to move as nearly as possible transversely to: the edge of the quarter, butit is evident that a movement even approximately transverse to the entire extent of the folded'is impossible owing to the curve of said margin. point X a slight irregularity in the folded edge, which must be smoothed out by hand after the two folding operations described above have been completed.

The present invention remedies these de margin to be Moreover, there results at the r:

fects by providing means for folding the en t1re margin of the top, throat and front at a single operation. In the illustrative embodiment this is accomplished by main plates, which are moved substantially transversely to the edge of the throat and auxiliary end plates so connected with the main plates that by the movement of the main plates transversely of the throat the auxiliary plates are moved substantially transversely of the edges of the front and top of the quarter.

Hitherto when quarters of different sizes were to be operated upon it has been necessary to replace the folder, former and supporting table by others having outlines to correspond to the outlines of the different 'sizes of the quarters.

Another feature of the present invention conslsts of a folder, a former and a supporting tablecomprising sections which may be adjusted to provide for quarters of different sizes. The curve at the center of the throat of quarters is approximately the same for all sizes, the difference lying in the extent of the straight edges at both sides of said center. Consequently in the illustrative embodiment .of the invention, wherein a machine for op erating upon quarters is shown, the adjustable sections are arranged to slide conver-i gently and divergently in paths which are parallel to the straight portions of the throat,

of the quarter. Again, quarters of the same size frequently differ in shape or style owing, for example, to variations in the angle between the edge of the top and the adjacent edge of the throat. j

, Another feature of the invention consists of a folder, a former, and a supporting table comprising sections which'may be adjusted 55 "sent the from the line of -The forming plate is provided with two former and the supporting and the former Fig. one of'the templets for facilitating adjustpointed out in the appended claims; 1

Referring now to the accompanying drawing's, Figure 1 isa-plan of the folder, the table in the positions in which they come to restready to 'eceive a quarter to be folded; Fig. 2 is a perspective showing one end of the folder;

Figf is a perspective showing thecorreof'the former; Fig. i is a plan sponding end Figs. 5 to 9.1ncluof the supporting table;

'sive are detail sectional vievs showingthe positions successively occupied by the folder 10 is a perspectiveof ment of the supporting table; and Fig. 11 is a plan of a quarter ofa Blu'cher shoe.

The invention is illustrated as embodied in certaininiprovements in folding machines of s mounting of suitable construction such, shown in the patent referred to and will not the type'illustrated in BritishPatent No. 5436 of 1907 and more particularly in connection with certain improvements in the supporting table, the former and the folder. The table as a whole is indicated at T, the folder at F, and the former at C The the stationary table and the mechanism for moving the folder and the former in proper sequence may be of any for example, as is be described in detail. Before proceeding, however, to a'detailed description of the invention, a general description of the operation of the machine will be given L Referring now more particularly toFigs, 1 and 5 to 9 inclusive, the folder F comprises an upper. main folding plate 1 and a lower stop plate 3 held normally in the relative position shown in Fig. 5 by a. spring 5, the

V folding plate being adapted fast to rods 21, said rods being slidable in the table to the base clamps 17 fast to to be attached to a movable part of the machine by a thumb screw 7', see Fig. 1. The table, which does not move, isprovided with a socket 9. to receive an'eccentric, not shown, which clamps of the machine. The former C comprises a body or a main forming plate 13 which may be moved relatively to each other so as to preforming plate to and withdraw it fold at the proper time.

sockets 15,'see Fig. 1, which cooperate with spring-pressed plungers slidable in hollow arms 19 which are in turn tubular arms 23. The arms 23, in the operation of the machine, are caused to be lowered and the rods 21 to be slid forward nd back-v of parts will be described in connection with an illustrative machine and "that the direction of movement the margin of a quarter carrier 11 and V ward in said arms to advance and retract the forming plate 18. Pins 25 depending from the tubular arms 23 serve to hold the carrier 11 stationary during the forward and backward movement of said forming. plate. In the following description of the operations of -the parts forward will signify downward in Fig. 1 and to the left in Figs. 5 to 9. Starting then with the parts in the osition shown in Fig.9 which is the initial and the final position, the quarter 100 is placedupon the table T and slid beneath the folding plate 13 until its edge contacts wit the gage 27. The tubular arms 23- which support the former are thenbrought down thereby clamping the quarter in the position shown in Fig. 5. The folder is next moved upwardly to the position shown in Fig. 6 thereby upsetting the margin of the quarter about the edge of the forming plate 13. Thereupon the folder is moved forwardly with the result that the folding plate 1 moves 'over the table T and the spring 5 is com pressed, the parts then being in the position shown in Fig. 7. The rods 21 'are'then moved forwardly to withdraw the forming plate 13 from beneath the overturned margin as shown in Fig. 8; the folding plate is moved downwardly to press the fold, and finally the parts are returned to the normal position shown in Fig. 9. The movements indicated operation of the machine shown in the patent referred to wherein the mechanism for producing them is described in detail.

When the margin to be folded is a straight one, or when the curve is a single one of large radius, the mechanism described in thepatent and briefly outlined above is satisfactory, but when it is desired to fold a margin having sharp curves and consequently edges which extend at an angle to. one another, a difiiculty arises from the fact of the folder is not substantially transverse to all portions of the edge of the margin to be folded. In order to promote brevity, the folding of for a Blucher shoe will be described below, but it should be understood that the invention is limited in no way to the folding of this particular piece. Referring now to Fig. '11 such a quarter is shown together with a feathered arrow Which indicates the direction of movement of the main folding plate 1 when the margin of the quarter is being bent over the forming plate, the direction of said movement being substantially normal to the base of the curve of the threat This direction of movement, however, is oblique to the top edge indicated at Q as well as to the front edge-indicated at R. The present invention is directed to the folding, at a single operation, of all three edges, and to this end aux- '-iliary folding plates are caused by the for chine, is held in adjusted folder.

of the quarter. pair of auxiliary folding plates which movement of the main folding plate to move toward each of the main folding plate 1 to wipe over the top and front edgesQ, R, in directions substantially normal to said edges. Inasmuch, however, as the two auxiliary folding plates are similar in construction and mode of operationonly one will be described in detail; Projecting from and fastto or integral with the main folding plate 1 (see Figs. 1 and 2) is an extension 29 provided With a rib or slide 31 which fits in a dovetailed groove 33 in a similar extension 35 on the stop 3 so that these extensions move with respect to each other when the parts 1 and 3 are moved from the position shown in Fig. (3 to that shown in Fig. 7' or from the posh tion shown in F ig. 8 to that shown in Fig. 9; and this relative movement is utilized to actuate the auxiliary foldingplate '37. Mounted upon the upper side, of the extension 29 and adjustable for a purpose pres ently to be described is an actuating plate 39 which, during the operation of the maposition'by thumb screws 41 which pass through slots 43 and are threaded into the extension 29.' Mounted upon the under. side of the lower exten sion 35 is a second actuating plate 45 similar to the plate 39 and similarly held in, adjusted position. For the present the adjustment need not be considered since-its purpose is merely to provide for quarters of different sizes, the two plates 39 and 45 being always adjusted in unison. The auxiliary folding plate 37 is provided with slots 47 which are inclined to the direction of movement of the folder and with slots 49 which are substantially transverse to said direction. Pins 51 which, during the foldina' operation. are held rigid with the actuating plate 45 extend through the inclined slots 17, and similar pins 53 similarly held with respect to the actuating plate 39 extend through the transverse slots 49. When now the parts are movedfrom the position shown in F 6 to that shown in Fig. the plate 39 will move forwardly with respect tov the plate 4.5 and will tend to carrywith it the auxiliary plate 37. Owing, however, to the inclined slots 47 and the pins 51, the effect of this tendency will be to move the auxiliary plate in a. direction approximately at right angles to the forward movement ofth At the same time a similar folding plate 137 providedwith similar slots (indiward movement cated in dotted linesin Fig. 1) is similarly ,moved by actuating plates, one of which is shown at 13.9,to wipe over the front edge R There is thus provlded'a caused bv the forward other in directions which are at an angle and substantially transverse to the direction of movement of said main plate.

plate 39.

'of the quarter which is to be folded.

v happens that The slots 49 and 47 have been shown extending respectively transverse to and inclined to the direction of movement of the folder. It should be understood, however, that this particular relation is not essential since it is evident that by varying the inclination of one set of slots with respect to that of the other the direction of movement of the auxiliary folding spent to that of the main plate may be plate 37 with re varied as may be desired.

As has been stated, the present invention provides means for adjusting the machine to accommodate quarters of different sizes, and itis'for this purpose that the actuating plates 39 and 45 are made adjustable. The plate 29 is provided with a guide 59 which is received in a dove-tailed The plate is also provided with a dovetailed groove (not shown) which is parallel to the guide 59 and receives a clovetailed guide (also not shown) carried by the plate 39. The second groove and guide act in conjunction with the guide 59 and groove 61 and serve merely to strengthen the device by providing an extra slide hearing. The edge of the main folding plate 1 is also undercut at to receive the beveled edge of the plate 39. The lower actuating plate as is similarly ttached to and adjustable on the extension 35 and, as stated above, the two plates 39 and 45 are always adjusted in unison;

Referring now to the left-hand portion of the folder viewed in Fig.

vided in tne extension 129 a dove-tailed the upper of which is shown at 139, are slidable, said plates being formed with slots, one of which is shown at 14:3, through which extend clamping screws, one of which is shown at 141. Upon the upper slidable plate 139 and upon a plate 67, the adjustment of which will be presently described, are mounted gages 65 and 63 respectively which, taken with the gage 27, correspond in outline to that of the portion As has the throat of quarsame for all sizes. portion of the edge been stated, the curve at ters is substantially the The curve at the central gage 27 corresponds to this curve, but the ends are straight so that when the end pieces are adjusted toward or from each other the continuity of the operative edge presented by the three gages is not broken.

With different styles of quarters it often the angle which the top edge Q forms with the adjacent edge of the throat varies, and it is desirable that provision be made for adjusting theparts of the folder so as toadapt the folder to conform to this variation in the shape of quarters. Accordingly the auxiliary folding plate 37 is held between and carried by two angularly groove 61 in the I 1 there is proiao ' are mounted respectively upon the upper ac- .tuating plate and These angularly ad ustable plates passes through plate a5.

so that angular table may correspond to Referring now receive clamping screws ing plate 79 is 85.

the low er actuating have the general outline of'a sector of a circle the curve yerticalaxis indicated at A in Fig. 2. In-

asmuch. as the two angrlarly adjustable plates 67 and 69. are symmetrical, similarly mounted, and arranged to be adjusted in in detail. The upper actuating plate 39 is "cut away on its upper side to provide. a seat orsocket for the angularly adjustable plate or sector (37 and is provided with a curved guide 71 which is received in a correspondingly curved slotin the sector 67,the curves of the edges of the guide andthe walls of the slots being segments of circles struck from the same center as that'of the curve 70. A curved slot 73 struck from the same center permits a clamping screw 75 to hold the sector in adjusted, position. With the construction thus far described it is evident that the pair ofsliding plates at each end ofthe folder may be adjusted to provide for quarters of different sizes and that the sectors 67 and 69rmay be adjusted angularly to provide for quarters of different shapes.

the fact that Attention is here directed to the pins 53 are carried by the upper sector 67 and the pins '51 by the lower sector (39, adjustment of the sectors effects angular adjustment of the auxiliary folding plate 37. i 1

It is of course desirable that a similar set of adjustments be provided for the table upon which the quarter is supported during the folding operation so that the edge of the the edge of the fold. to Fig. 1 two sliding plates 77 and 79 are provided having slots 81 to 83. said plates having projecting guides on their bottoms which fit into suitable grooves or guideways in the table. livotallymounted at 8% on the slidln order that the plate 85 may be held in adjusted position, a slot 87 in said plate has a countersink, and upon the ledge thus formed rests a slotted slide 89. A screw 91 the slot in the slide and is threaded into the table. The front edge of the table is of full thickness from the point 93 to the point 95 The remaining portion of the front edge is reduced by the width of the material cut away to make room for htheplates 77 and 79 and the right hand of approximately the same edge of the swinging pl te 85 has adepending flange 291 to provide an edge which is thickness as that the points of the table. The curve between 93 and 95 correspondsto the curve at the central portion of the gage of the folder,

of their outer. edges 70 being segments of circles struck from a point, in a .erative edges of ranged to be raised an angularly adjustable plate mea s so that with the construction described above the contour of the operative edge "of the table may made to correspond to the combined contour of the gages 65, 27' and folder in their different positions. As has been stated, the contours thefolder, the former and the table are identical during the operation of the machine, and are adjusted before said operation to conform to the particular size of quarter-which is to be folded. It is desirable that provision ing the adjustment of one of these three members so that it'may be adjusted quickly and serve then as a form or pattern to aid in the adjustment of the other two; and in the illustrative machine the supporting table has beenchosenL To this end there is provided a series of templets each preferably marked with the number of thesize ofthe quarterto which it corresponds; and these templetsj areadapted to be inserted between the sliding members 77 and 79 of the supporting table. Onev of these templets is shown in place at 80' and a larger one alone in Fig. 10. 'VVhen changing from one size of quarter, to another the table may be quickly adjusted by removing the old temple-t and replacing it by the proper one, the slides 77 and 7 9 being then moved up against the new templet and locked in position by the screws 83. a p

The former C is constructed so as to permit the same adjustments for size and angle as are the folder and the supporting table. It is also provided with a main forming plate and with auxiliary forming plates constructed and arranged to be moved similarly to the manner in which the main and auxiliary plates of the folder are vmoved. The body or carrier of the former is an I and lowered by the upward and downward movements of the tubular arms 23,but to beheld from movement with respect to sa d arms by the pins :25 during the forward and backward movearms 19 are attached (see Figs. 5 to 9).

Referring now more particularly to Fig. 3 there is mounted in the carrier or body a main forming plate 101having slots 103 to receive guide pins .105 which determine the direction in which said forming plate. shall move wit respect to the carrier.- Slidably mounted upon said carrier is a plate 107 similar to the plate 29 of the folder and similarly held in placebyfla. clamping screw 109 which passes through a slot 111 and is threaded into the carrier. Mounted upon the plate 107 is a seotor'113 similar to the sector 67 and similarly held in place by a clamping screw 115 which passes through a curved slot 117 and this sector carries 63 of the of the opintegral therewith formed 7 the extension 223 plate 133 held loosely in its outer portion an. auxiliary forming plate. 119. by means of pins 121 which pass througlrinclined slots123 in said;

auxiliary form ng plate. In order to permit 1 the sliding adjustment ofthe plate 107 with out brcalcingthe continuity of the effective edge of the main and plates, there is slidably mountedin the main forming plate 101 an cxtension ilffilhaving two slides 125 and 127 which are held in suitable guideways formed in the main forming plate 101. The operative edge of the extensionZQZ-B is beveled to correspond to the bevel of the main break in the edge at the point where the two edges meet. In order to permit angular adjustment of the sector 113 and with it the auxiliary forming plate 110, said plate is witha curved hook 129 which fits about a second curved hook 131 formed on the extension223,said second hook in turn fitting about a suitably shaped bearing portion of the plate 119 are in effect pivoted together about an axis which contains the center of curvature 131. Referring now to Fig, 1, the other end of the former is provided" with a sliding in adjusted position by a clamping screw 135andwith a second iliary forming plate 138 which are slidably mounted in suitable ways in the main forming plate 101. PinslatQ carried by the plate clined slots 14% in plate. l/Vith the the auxiliary forming construction I described above,movement in the upward direction of the main forming plate 101 as viewed in Fig. 1 will cause the auxiliary forming plates 119 and 138 to move away from each other while movementin the downward direction of the'main plate 101 as viewed in the same figure will cause movement of the auxiliary plates toward each other. I The purpose of this j the auxiliary forming plates 119 and 188 shall be withdrawn from; the top Q and front Ref the quarter when the main forming plate 101 is withdrawn from the throat ofthe quarter. p

The operation of the machine is as follows! The proper templetis placed between the sliding members 77, 79 of the table and Y adjusted angularly if such adjustment is required; The sections of the folder and the former are adjusted in conformity with the adjustment ofthc parts of the table. The quarteris then placed upon the table beneath the former withits edge against the gages 03, 27, 05. A treadleoperated clutch (not shown). is thrown in to cause the driving shaft (also not shown) to make one revolution with the result that the folder rises, the mainand auxiliary fold the member auxiliary forming forming. ,plate 101 so that there is practically no so that said plate and.

of the hooks 129 and aux} having guides 140 133 passes through in construction is to insure that" b sa d gage,

ing plates bend the margin over the edge of tr e main and auxiliary forming plates, then, after said forming plates have been withdrawn, press the fold against the table, and finally return to normal position.

Although the invention has been set forth in connection with a machine for folding pieces of material of a particular shape, it should be understood that the invention is not limited in the scope of its application to the particular shape of material or to the particular machine shown and described Having thus described my invention, what I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States is:

1. In a machine of the class described, a folder, a former and a supporting table, each comprising a main section and an angularly adjustable section, and means for holding said adjustable sections in position.

2. In a machine of the class described, a

folder comprising a main section, a slidably section, an angularly adjustable section, also connected with said main section, and means for holding said adjustable sections in adjustedposition. V 1

.3. In a machine of the class described, a folder comprising a main section, an edge gage mounted thereon, an adjustable section, and a second edge gage mounted on said adjustable section, the outline of the operative faces of said corresponding to the outline of "the portion of the blank to be folded, the construction and arrangement being such that the continuity of the outline presented by said gages is preserved in the different positions of said adjustable sections.

1. In a machine of theclass described, a folder comprising a main section, an edge gage mounted thereon, an angularly adjustable section, and a second edge gage mount-' outline presented by said gages is in the dnierent positions of said angularl adjustable section.

o. In a machine of the class described, a folder comprising a main sectlon, an edge gage mounted thereon, an adjustable section slidablc with respect, to said main section in a direction parallel to the adjacent face of and a second edge gage mounted upon said second gage being approximately in contact with the face of the said first in the different positions of said slidable' section.

b. in a machine of the class described a folder comprising a main section, gage mounted thereon, a section angularly adjustable with respect to said main section, and a second edge gage mounted upon said adjustable section, the end of said preserved r V former comprising folder comprising a angularly adjustable section, second gage being approximately in contact with. the face of said first gage in the different angular positions of said adjustable section. i

7. In a machine of the class described, a main section provided with an extension, a second section connected with said extension and slidably adjustable with respect thereto, a third section connected with said second section and angularly adjustable with respect to said second section, and means for locking said sections rigid with one another in adjusted position. 7 8'. In a machineof the class described, a folder comprising a main folding plate, auxiliary folding plates extending at an'angle thereto, said auxiliary plates being adjustable along the edge of said main plate, one of said auxiliary plates being angularlyad justable, and means for holding said auxiliary plates in adjusted position.

' the same size.

9. In a machineof the class described, a sectional folder having the outline of the edge of a quarter at the top, throat and front, the sections being constructed and arranged to be adjusted to form similar contours corresponding to quarters of different sizes and to form dissimilar'co-ntours corresponding to different shapes of quarters of the samesize. I I

10. In a machine of the class described, a former comprising a main section, a slidably adjustable section connected with said main 7 section, an angularly adjustable section also connected with said main section, and means for holding said adjustable sections in adjusted position. I

11. In a machine of the class described, a sectional former having the outline of the edge of a quarter at the top, throat and front,'the sections being constructed and arranged to be adjusted to form similar contours corresponding to quarters of different sizes and to form dissimilar contours cor-. responding to different shapes of quarters of 12. In a machine for folding the margin of a quarter at the top, throat and front, a a emain forming plate movable towardand from the throat, auxiliary forming plates and connecting means between said plates responsive to movement of the main plate for moving the auxiliary plates in directions substantially transverse to-the topand frontof the quarter.

13. In a machine of the class described, a folder comprising a main folding plate provided with an extension, pins held rigid with Copies of this the end of the I ing with an extension,

patent may be obtained forfive cents each, by addressing the 7 Washington, 1). GP

said extension during the folding operation, a stop with respect to which the main fol plate moves, pins'held rigid with respect to said stop, and an auxiliary folding plate having slots to receive said pins. i

14. In a machine of the class described, ,a'

folder comprising a stop and a main folding plate movable with respect thereto, an 'auxiliary folding plate havlng slots extending approximately transverse to the direction 0 movement of the main folding plate and other slots extending at an angle to said direction of movement, pins carried by said main plate and arranged to enter said transverse slots, andpins carried by said stop arranged to enter said inclined stops.

l5. Ina machine of the class described, a sectional folding member, ing member, bers being capable'of adjustment for folding articles of different sizes, with a templet corresponding article to be folded, said templet being adapted to be inserted between the sections of one of said members whereby the adjustment of the three'members is facilitated.

16. In a machine of the class described a folder comprising a main section, a section slidably adjustable thereon, a section angularly adjustable on said slidable section, an means for holding said sections in adjusted positions I V 17 In .a machin'efof the class described a folder comprising a-main section provide a second section slidably adjustable on said extension, a third section angularly adjustable onsaid second section, and means for holding said sections in adjusted position.

18. In a machine of theclass described a former comprisinga main section, a section slidably ad ustable thereon, a section anguthe subscribing witnesses.

' ANTON HAAHER.

WitnesseSz' V Jnns Knornan,

JnssnN SCHMIDT,

HANS HENRIK Mansnn.

Commissioner of Eatents,

a sectional form-. and a sectional table,sa1dmemng said aux1l-- in combination to one size of dec "name to this specification in the presence of r 

